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Title / Demonstrate knowledge of hazards associated with confined spaces
Level / 3 / Credits / 4
Purpose / This unit standard is for people working in confined spaces.
People credited with this unit standard are able to: demonstrate knowledge of confined spaces, and their permit notification and implementation requirements; identify control measures to eliminate, isolate, and minimise the risk of hazards in confined spaces; demonstrate knowledge of monitoring and confined space testing requirements; and describe the responsibilities and duties of people entering confined spaces or conducting observation duties for confined spaces.
Classification / Occupational Health and Safety > Occupational Health and Safety Practice
Available grade / Achieved
Explanatory notes
1References
Legislative requirements in this unit standard include – Health and Safety at Work Act 2015; Health and Safety in Employment Regulations 1995; Resource Management Act 1991; local body regulations. Approved codes of practice include AS2865-2009 Confined spaces, available at
2Definitions
Confined spaces – an enclosed or partially enclosed space that is not intended or designed primarily forhuman occupancy, within which there is a risk of one or more of the following:
(a)An oxygen concentration outside the safe oxygen range.
(b)A concentration of airborne contaminant that may cause impairment, loss ofconsciousness or asphyxiation.
(c)A concentration of flammable airborne contaminant that may cause injury fromfire or explosion.
(d)Engulfment in a stored free-flowing solid or a rising level of liquid that maycause suffocation or drowning.
Organisational requirements – instructions to candidates on policies and procedures which are documented in memo or manual format. These requirements include but are not limited to – site-specific requirements and any quality management requirements.
Outcomes and evidence requirements
Outcome 1
Demonstrate knowledge of confined spaces, and their permit notification and implementation requirements.
Evidence requirements
1.1A confined space is definedin terms of its atmosphere, intended use, entry and exit features, and examples of types of confined spaces to be found in a specified workplace.
1.2Work permits related to confined space work are identified in terms of type and organisational requirements.
Rangework permits include but are not limited to – entry, gas, heat stress, hot work, isolation.
1.3Notification for associated work is identified in terms of type and organisational requirements.
Rangeassociated work includes but is not limited to – confined space, scaffolding, use of compressed air breathing equipment.
1.4Supporting documents that outline confined space requirements and system supports are identified in terms of type and requirement.
Rangesupporting documents include but are not limited to – hazard identification/risk assessment procedures and forms, entry procedures and forms, work permit procedures and forms, gas monitoring procedures and forms, emergency rescue procedures and plans, site evacuation plans.
Outcome 2
Identify control measures to eliminate, isolate, and minimise the risk of hazards in confined spaces.
Evidence requirements
2.1Atmospheric hazards associated with the confined space environment are identified in terms oforganisational requirements.
Rangeatmospheric hazards include but are not limited to – toxic gases, flammable liquids, vapours, dust, fire, explosion, oxygen depletion or enrichment, other chemicals, toxic fumes, hazardous fumes from machinery, degree of cleanliness, amount of residual contents.
2.2Other hazards that may arise due to the nature of work activities within the confined space are identified in terms of organisational requirements.
Rangeother hazards include but are not limited to – physical falls, slips, noise, electrocution, impact, entrapment, engulfment, oxygen depletion or enrichment, toxic formation, heat stress, hypothermia, exhaustion, disturbance of residual contents, housekeeping standards.
2.3Hazards that may arise due to the changes in external conditions are identified in terms of organisational requirements.
Rangehazards include but are not limited to – blockage of entry or exit points, changes in ventilation, changes in weather, external activities and emergencies.
2.4Hazard identification and risk assessment procedures are identified in terms of health and safety and organisational requirements.
Outcome 3
Demonstrate knowledge of monitoring and confined space testing requirements.
Evidence requirements
3.1Continuous communication channels are identified in terms of work activity, environment and emergency procedures.
3.2Continuous visual monitoring is definedin terms of the meaning of continuous and the practicable application benefits and limitations of visual monitoring within confined spaces.
3.3Audio monitoring is defined in terms of when it may be used to complement visual monitoring within confined spaces.
3.4Pre-entry and periodic testing requirements are identified in terms of risk assessment procedures, frequency and type, and health and safety and organisational requirements.
Rangetesting requirements include but are not limited to – gas levels, temperature.
Outcome 4
Describe the responsibilities and duties of people entering confined spaces or conducting observation duties for confined spaces.
Evidence requirements
4.1Responsibilities and duties of people entering confined spaces are described in terms of a specific workplace and organisational requirements.
Rangeresponsibilities and duties include but are not limited to – ensuring safety of self and others, communication requirements, entry and exit procedures, emergency evacuation, maintenance of hazard control measures.
4.2Responsibilities and duties for a confined space entry safety observer are described in terms of health and safety and organisational requirements.
Rangeresponsibilities and duties include but are not limited to – monitoring work and adjacent areas environments, remaining at post to form continual communication link and life support, maintaining and checking communication systems, ensuring required emergency response equipment is present, raising alarm for abnormalities, effecting a non-entry rescue, maintaining records of tests and entry, performing no other duties.
4.3Record keeping and document control are described in terms of health and safety and organisationalrequirements.
4.4Specific responsibilities and duties of the safety observer, in potential emergency situations, are described in terms of organisational requirements.
Rangeresponsibilities and duties include but are not limited to – ensuring own safety, preventing unauthorised rescue entry, raising alarm for emergency response, effecting non-entry rescue, providing first aid and CPR assistance.
Planned review date / 31 December 2018Status information and last date for assessment for superseded versions
Process / Version / Date / Last Date for AssessmentRegistration / 1 / 31 July 2001 / 31 December 2012
Revision / 2 / 16 May 2005 / 31 December 2012
Review / 3 / 25 May 2007 / 31 December 2012
Rollover and Revision / 4 / 17 June 2011 / 31 December 2013
Revision / 5 / 8 December 2011 / 31 December 2018
Revision / 5 / 22 February 2012 / 31 December 2018
Review / 6 / 21 March 2013 / 31 December 2018
Rollover and Revision / 7 / 22 May 2014 / 31 December 2018
Rollover and Revision / 8 / 19 January 2017 / N/A
Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR) reference / 0003
This CMR can be accessed at
Please note
Providers must be granted consent to assess against standards (accredited) by NZQA, before they can report credits from assessment against unit standards, or deliver courses of study leading to that assessment.
Industry Training Organisations must be granted consent to assess against standards by NZQA before they can register credits from assessment against unit standards.
Providers and Industry Training Organisations, which have been granted consent and which are assessing against unit standards must engage with the moderation system that applies to those standards.
Requirements for consent to assess and an outline of the moderation system that applies to this standard are outlined in the Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR). The CMR also includes useful information about special requirements for organisations wishing to develop education and training programmes, such as minimum qualifications for tutors and assessors, and special resource requirements.
Comments on this unit standard
Please contact The Skills Organisation you wish to suggest changes to the content of this unit standard.
The Skills OrganisationSSB Code 100401 / New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2018